Vick's Remaining Co-Defendants Set Hearings For Plea Agreements

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The two remaining co-defendants in Michael Vick's federal dogfighting case on Monday scheduled hearings to enter plea agreements.<br/><br/>Purnell Peace is set to appear in federal

Monday, August 13th 2007, 7:38 pm

By: News On 6

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The two remaining co-defendants in Michael Vick's federal dogfighting case on Monday scheduled hearings to enter plea agreements.

Purnell Peace is set to appear in federal court in Richmond onThursday and Quanis Phillips on Friday.

Last month, another original co-defendant, Tony Taylor, pleaded guilty to his role in a dogfighting conspiracy he says was financed almost entirely by the Atlanta Falcons quarterback.

Taylor agreed to fully cooperate with the government in its prosecution of Vick, Peace and Phillips, who are accused of running an interstate dogfighting enterprise known as "Bad Newz Kennels" on Vick's property in rural Surry County.

Attorneys for Peace and Phillips did not immediately returnphone messages seeking comment.

Collins R. Spencer III, a spokesman for Vick's defense team,,said the lawyers were surprised by the plea deals.

"They didn't see it coming," Spencer said.

But he said it wouldn't affect the way he proceeds with the case.

Vick has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to travel in interstate commerce in aid of unlawful activities and conspiring to sponsor a dog in an animal fighting venture.

Vick, 27, attended several dogfights in Virginia and other states with his partners, according to the statement. Prosecutors claim the fights offered purses as high as $26,000.